Conveying, packaging and slitting machine



P 2, 1958 H. E. ENGLESON EI'AL 0,

convsymc, mcxmmc AND SLITTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9, 1954- sSheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTORS:

ELME

ATT'IYS Sept. 2, 1958 i H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,850,144

comma, PACKAGING AND SLITTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

an INVENTORS;

HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK Sept. 2, 1958 2,850,144

CONVEYING, PACKAGING AND SLITTING MACHINE H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1954 FIG?) PNEUMATIC TIMERDETECTOR RELAY COIL MICROSWITCH DELAY PNEUMA IO TIMER I SOLENOID RELAYCONTACTS 50 STARTER BOX counc'rs [L FIG. 5

m m8 WE L 56 N ME ELMER 0. SRAMEK wwwwt ATT'YS CONVEYING, PACKAGING ANDSLITTlNG MACHEJE Harry E. Engleson, Chicago, and Elmer D. Sramek,Cicero, Ill., assignors to F. B. Redington Co., Chicago, 111., acorporation of Delaware Original application August 9, 1954, Serial No.448,607. Divided and this application August 13, 1956, Serial No.603,742

7 Claims. (Cl. 198-34) This invention relates to mechanism for conveyingarticles in a predetermined sequence to predetermined positions, andmore particularly to arrangements for mechanically detecting andintermittently clamping the articles conveyed, the present applicationbeing a division of the copending application for United States LettersPatent for a Conveying, Packaging and Slitting Machine, Serial No.448,607, filed August 9, 1954.

The machine of the present invention consists in mechanism fordelivering articles, such as small metal containers normally referred toas tins, the tins being delivered from tin packaging machines, whichlatter machines are normally referred to as tin packers. Tins aredelivered by means of conveyors to respective channels where they areconveyed by a main line-conveyer to a converger conveyer, where the tinsare shifted at right angles from the main line-conveyer. The tins alongthe main lineconveyer are intermittently arrested or clamped by certainclamping mechanism, the operation of which is controlled by certaindetectors. A penumatic delay mechanism permits a plurality of tins fromeach line or channel to be first clamped, and then released at theproper time interval for delivery to the converger conveyer. Theconverger conveyer and a cartoning mechanism into which the tins willfeed are described in the copending application of the present'inventorsentitled Conveying, Packaging and Slitting Machine, Serial No. 448,607,filed August 9, 1954, from which this application was divided.

An important object of the invention consists in the provision of meansfor periodically clamping lines or rows of tins and periodicallyreleasing such tins to a conveyor converger.

Another object consists in the arrangement of a pneumatic delay systemcooperating with detector mechanism to intermittently clamp articles andthen release the articles after a certain time delay so long as thereare articles in line being fed, and which causes the articles to beclamped indefinitely when there is an insuflicient number of tins in aline.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the specification which follows.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a certain selected embodiment ofthe invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detail top plan view somewhat diagrammatic or schematic innature and showing the various parts of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of certain mechanism, including thedetector mechanism, the converger mechanism, and tin clamping mechanismfor clamping tins prior to release to the converger conveyer;

Fig. 3 is an electric diagram disclosing the operation of certain of theelements shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail elevational view, partly in section, showing certainof the mechanism, and the manner in which the tin stop is operated; and

Fig. 5 is a detail elevational view, partly in section,

nite States Patent G 2 showing some of the clamp control mechanismadapted to be operated by a solenoid.

The particular construction herein shown for the purpose of illustratingthe present invention comprises a plurality of filling machines, termedtin packers for packaging or packing a plurality of tablets in smallfiat metal boxes, referred to herein, and known in the art as tins.These tins may be of any convenient or desired shape or size, and eachreceives a certain predetermined number of tablets. The type and size oftins employed in the present embodiment are relatively small andshallow, and are designed to receive a dozen tablets, the tins beingrelatively rectangular in shape with a closed top which is hinged alongone side. Five tin packers, or fill ing machines, are specificallydisclosed, being numbered 1 to 5, inclusive, Fig. 1. A greater or lessernumber of tin filling machines may be used, depending upon therequirements and the production to be handled.

Each tin packer delivers tins, in a row, to a separate delivery formovement to a main line-conveyer. Tins from the tin packers 1 to 5, Fig.1, are discharged onto their separate deliveries 6 to 10, respectively,each delivery having side guides. The tins from each delivery 6 to 10are received'onto a main line-conveyer 11 which may be in the form of anendless relatively wide belt 12. Guide strips 13, arranged over the belt12, divide the belt or conveyer 12 into separate guide ways or channels14 to 18 which are angularly disposed relative to the deliveries 6 to10, whereby rows of tins are moved in rows along the channels 14 to 18,respectively, Fig. l. Tins from the packers 1 to 5, inclusive,therefore, are delivered to the belt 12 in rows and are conveyed alongthe channels between the guides 13, in continuous moving rows fordelivery, gathering, packaging and conveying purposes. Five tin packersor filling machines for the five channels are specifically shown, butmore or less machines and channels may be employed, depending on thecircumstances and upon the conditions required. There are preferably oneor more additional channels provided to permit extra tins to be fed byhand, one such extra channel 19 being shown in Fig. 1.

Tins 20, which are filled by the previously mentioned tin packers 1 to5, are fed by the conveyer 11 (belt 12) along a predetermined path,first passing under detectors 21, there being one detector for eachchannel. There are five machines, 1 to 5, five delivery channels, 6 to10, for the five rows of tins 20, and five detectors 21. Thus, there isone detector for each channel or row of tins. An extra detector 21 isprovided also for the channel or row 19. As the tins for each row areconveyed in the same manner, and each detector 21 operates in the samemanner as the others, only the manner of feed, and the manner ofoperation of one detector for one row, will be described.

Tins 20 are delivered from a tin packer and supported on the belt 12,Figs. 1 and 2, moving from right to left, Fig. 2, where they are adaptedto engage an operated stop 22, Mechanical spring clamps, designatedgenerally by the number 23, close to clamp a third tin 20 as indicatedat C, Fig. 2, the first tins 20 being designated as A and B,respectively. The stop 22 operates to release tins A and B to the left,Fig. 2, a short distance, thus permitting a conveyor converger lug 24,on a converger conveyer 25, to move two tins to the left onto aconverger delivery belt.

A tin clamp lever 26, supporting each of the clamps 23, is freelymounted on a rocker shaft 27, Fig. 2, which is rotatively mounted inbearings in a part of the machine, or machine framework. Each clamplever 26 carries a clamp 23, each of which has two spring plates 28 and29. The left hand spring plate 28 clamps tin C, and the right handspring plate 29 clamps two tins 20 designated as D and E, Figs. 2, 4 and5. The clamp lever 26 is held up in clamp position by a spring 30 whichhas one end fastened to a tail piece 31 on the freely mounted lever 26,and its other end secured to a stationary part of the machine frame. i

A cam lever 32, Fig. 2, is fixed to the shaft 27, which gives the shaft27 its oscillating motion. A cam roller 33, on the lever 32, engages acam 34 fixed on a rotating shaft 35 which is journaled in bearings inthe machine frame. Rotation of the shaft 35, therefore, impartsoscillatory motion to the shaft 27 by the cam lever 32..

A clamp operator lever 36, Fig. 2, is also pinned to the shaft 27 and isalso oscillated thereby. A clamp operator plate 37 is fastened to theleft hand side of the clamp lever 26. Between the clamp lever 26 and theplate 37 there is a clamp engaging block 33, which is held in downposition by a link 39 operated by a solenoid 40. A spring 41, betweenthe clamp lever 26 and the upper end of the link 39, holds the clampengaging block 38 above the clamp operator lever 36 when the solenoid 40is de-energized. The clamp operator lever 36 operates the clamp lever 26down to unclamp tins. Tins 20 (C, D and E) are clamped while theconverger lug 24- moves tins A and B to the right; and tins areunclamped to permit tins to feed up against the operated stop 22.

The operated stop 22, Fig. 4, comprises a lever arm 42 having a camroller 43. The cam roller 43 engages a cam 44 which is fixed to therotary shaft 35. The operated stop 22, therefore, operates in propertimed synchronous relation with the tin clamps 28 and 29. The clampingoperation of the clamp lever 26, and the spring clamps 28 and 29, isnormally upward, being pulled in that direction by the spring 39,whereby the tins are clamped between the clamps 28 and 29 and top guides45, 45, Figs. 2 and 5.

When there is,a supply of tins available, a detector 21 wil be heldup bythe tins 20 on the belt 12, the detector 21 being held away from anormally closed microswitch 46, Fig. 2, which energizes the solenoid 40.The energized solenoid pulls the clamp engaging block 38 between theclamp operator lever 36 and the clamp operator plate 37, the clampoperator lever 36 thus releasing two tins 20 (A and B) each revolutionof the cam 34.

Whenever there is a failure of supply of tins 20, the detector 21 willdrop and cause the normally closed microswitch 46, Fig. 2, to open,thereby de-energizing the solenoid 40 and permitting the spring 41, Fig.2, between the clamp lever 26 and the clamp engaging block 38, to pullthe clamp engaging block 38 above the operator lever 36. The clampoperator lever 36 operates during each revolution of the cam 34, butsince the thickness of the clamp engaging block 38 i slightly greaterthan the stroke of the clamp operator lever 36, the tin clamp lever 26continues to clamp tins in timed position until the supply of tins. isagain available to hold up the detector. The end of the solenoid link 39may be bent and extended through the block 38 to receive one end of thespring 41, the other end of the spring being secured to a pin on theclamp lever 26, Fig. 2.

Tins 20, therefore, are always released in time, being controlled by theclamp operator lever 36 which is timed by the cam 34. Should a detectordrop because no tin is thereunder, and the solenoid 40 be de-energizedduring the clamp release part of the stroke, that part of the surface ofthe clamp operator lever 36 which contacts the clamp engaging block 38,being tapered, Fig. 5, will frictionally hold the block 38 against theplate 37 against the biasing of the spring 41 and thereby precludewithdrawal of the block 38 from the path of the tapered part of thelever 36 until the release stroke has been completed and the lever 36has returnedto its normal position.

The electrical circuit, Fig. 3, functions so that when. asupply of tinsis available an arm 47 of the detector 21, Fig. 2, is lifted, permittingthe normally closed microswitch 46 to close and energize the, relay coilof a pneu matic timer 48 on delay. Time delay takes place during thisaction. This on delay closing of contact points 49 in the pneumatictimer 48 is to prevent the feeding out of all tins. Should one tin comealong on the belt at a time to energize the solenoid 40, and two tins 20be allowed to feed into the converger conveyer lug 24, there would beone tin less than what was had at the start. Should this lattersituation occur a sufficient number of times, all tins would run out.With the open type on delay pneumatic timer 48, should one tin comealong at a certain time, the contact points would not be closedimmediately, but instead would be closed after the proper time delay ifthe arm 47 of the detector 21 is held up by succeeding tins. Thepneumatic timer relay contact points 49 close to energize the solenoid40. When the supply of tins fails, and the detector arm 47 drops to openthe normally closed microswitch 46, the relay coil of the pneumatictimer 48 is de-energized, and the circuit to the solenoid 40 is brokenimmediately.

Contact points 50, Fig. 3, in a converger motor starter box (not shown)are to close the circuit of a converger intake tin clamp detector 21 andan escapement for the conveyer only when converger 25 is running. Thisarrangement is to protect the solenoid 40 from burning out if converger25 should stop at a time when the plunger of the solenoid could not seatitself.

The first two tins 20 (A and B), after being released from the stop 22,are picked up, two deep, by the spaced lugs 24 of the converger conveyor25, from each of the channels or guideways 14 to 19, inclusive. The lugs24- are fastened to a chain 51, Fig. 2, and are spaced apart a distancesomewhat more than the number of lines or channels being employed. Thechain 51 is trained over a spaced sprocket 53. Thus, the tins 20 aremoved by the converger conveyor 25, Fig. 2, to a cartoner 73, Fig. l,where the tins are placed in cartons 74 from a stack 75. In subsequentoperations the cartons are sealed with glue and move through a dryingchannel 153, and thence move from the packaging machine on a deliverybelt 163. A more complete description of the cartoner 73, the dryingchannel 153 and the delivery conveyer 163 may be found in the copendingapplication, Serial No. 448,607, of which the present application is adivision.

The machine of the invention provides new and novel means for clampingoncoming tins for a predetermined interval of time, and causes tins tobe fed to the cartoner to be packaged into a carton by the fillerpushers. In

the event of failure of a supply of tins being fed to the convergerconveyer, the rows of tins will be held up. In the event of failure ofthe mechanism, caused by jamming of tins enroute to packaging position,the cartoner will stop, at which time the escapement door will open, andthereby prevent the piling up of tins.

The structure of the inventionis positive and efiicicnt in operation,and permits several rows. of tins to be positioned in several layerswithin a carton.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and.

arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is herebyreserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of thefollowing claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a continuously movingconveyer carrying articles arranged in a row in contacting relation, adetector under which the articles pass, switch means operated by thedetector, clamping means responsive to said detector to clamp certain ofsaid articles when articles pass under the detector, means to hold saidclamping means in clamping position for a certain time interval, meansto release the clamping action after said time interval, and means forholding said clampingmeans in clamped position when the detector detectsno articles under said detector because of a failure of a supply ofarticles.

2. A machine. of theclass. described. comprising-,a continuously movingconveyer carrying articles arranged in a row in contacting relation, adetector under which the articles pass, switch means operated by thedetector, clamping means responsive to said detector to clamp certain ofsaid articles when articles pass under the detector, means to hold saidclamping means in clamping position for a certain time interval, meansto release the clamping action after said time interval, and means forholding said clamping means in clamped position when the detectordetects no articles under said detector because of a failure of a supplyof articles, said second named means comprising a pneumatic time delaycontrol member, and said last named means including a solenoidcontrolled by said switch means.

3. In a packaging machine having a conveyer for transporting articles,apparatus for intermittently clamping and releasing the articles when asuflicient number of the articles appears on the conveyer and forcontinuously clamping and holding the articles when a deficiency ofarticles appears on the conveyer, said apparatus comprising clamp meansmounted to move into engagement with the articles on the conveyer, adetector means operatively associated with the conveyer of sensing thepresence of articles on the conveyer, a continuously reciprocating drivemeans, and coupling means operatively associated with the clamp meansand with the drive means for drivingly coupling the clamp means to thedrive means, said coupling means being responsive to said detector meanswhereby the clamp means is drivingly coupled to the reciprocating drivemeans only when the detector senses the presence of articles on theconveyer and whereby the clamp means remains in an article holdingposition when the detector means fails to sense articles on theconveyer.

4. In a packaging machine having a conveyer for transporting articles ina line, apparatus for intermittently clamping and releasing groups ofthe articles when a sufiicient number of the articles appears in theline following the articles being clamped and for continuously clampingand holding the articles when a deficiency of articles follows thearticles being clamped, said apparatus comprising a clamping meansoperatively associated with the conveyer and movable into engagementwith the articles thereon, a detector means mounted over the conveyer,said detector means having an arm positioned to contact articlesfollowing the article at the clamp means, a continuously rotating cam,an oscillatory member engaging the cam and being continuously oscillatedthereby, a coupling means drivingly coupled between the oscillatorymember and the clamp means for causing the clamp means to alternatelyclamp and release the articles on the conveyer as the cam rotates, and adisabling means operatively associated with the coupling means, saiddisabling means being responsively coupled to the detector means wherebytheclamp means remains in a clamped position when a deficiency ofarticles appears in the conveyer.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the detector means includes anelectric switch operated by movement of the arm, wherein the disablingmeans includes a solenoid electrically coupled to the electric switch,and Wherein the coupling means includes a member normally engaged withthe oscillatory member, said solenoid being mechanically coupled to themember and being operative to move the member out of engagement with theoscillatory member thereby uncoupling the drive means from the clampmeans.

6. In a machine having a conveyor for transporting articles and forpassing the articles in synchronism with a subsequent conveying means,apparatus for intermittently clamping and releasing the articles when anadequate supply of articles is following the articles being clamped andfor continuously clamping the articles when an insufiicient supply ofarticles follows the articles being clamped, said apparatus comprising aclamp means operatively associated with the conveyor for clamping andholding groups of articles thereon, a continuously rotating drive meanscoupled to rotate synchronously with movement of the subsequentconveyor, said drive means including a cam, a rock member engaged withand continuously oscillated by the cam, a clamp oscillating meansdrivingly coupled between the rock member and the clamp means wherebythe clamp means is caused to intermittently release the articles insynchronism with the drive means and with the subsequent conveyingmeans, a detector means having an arm positioned to contact articles onthe conveyor subsequent to the articles at the clamp means, saiddetector means being operative to sense the presence of a sufficientnumber of articles subsequent to the clamping means, and a clamp releasedisabling means operative'ly associated with the clamp oscillating meansand responsively coupled to the detector means, said clamp releasedisabling means being operable to uncouple the clamp oscillating meansfrom the rock member when an insufiicient number of articles is sensedby the detector means, said clamp release disabling means and said clamposcillating member being further operable to cause the clamp means torelease articles synchronously with the subsequent conveying means whena sufficient number of articles is sensed by the detector means.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a corn tinuously movingconveyor carrying articles arranged in a row in contacting relation, adetector mounted above said conveyor under which articles pass, switchmeans operated by the detector in the absence of articles, clampingmeans at the end of said conveyor to intermittently clamp certain ofsaid articles and stop their advancement when articles pass under thedetector in a substantially continuous stream, actuating means tonormally hold said clamping means in clamping position for a certaintime interval and normally release said clamping means for a certaintime interval, and a means responsive to said switch means for renderingsaid actuating means nonoperative whereby the clamping means will remainin clamping position and stop movement of the articles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHolstebroe Dec. 27, 1955

